I am a newbie on Vonage softphone. First up, a few comments on my experience with the softphone so far:

1. The softphone software from XTEN, that Vonage provides for download, **** - big time. I am behind a network that I do not control, and possibly a firewall (software is supposed to work accross firewall), and I was never able to get the softphone to do anything.

2. After getting a firsthand taste of Vonage customer mockery (BTW, I have a ticket open on this issue since for more than a month now, escalated and re-escalated thrice, but I have never heard from them. The ticket # is 2483775), I thought of trying someting on my own. I browsed the web, saw people having luck with SJLabs softphone, so tried it. And it did work! So far, so good.

Now, I am having this issue - after I log into the softphone, it works fine for sometime. After sometime of inactivity, when I make a call, I can hear the bell ring, but once it becomes "Operational", I do not hear anything from the other side. But the bell ring is true (I can call my cell phone, the bell will ring). This is consistent behavior. Anyone else experience this? Any known workarounds?

My guess is that this has to do something with the software not being able to grab the soundcard for some reason, so it cannot use it to stream the incoming/outgoing audio. Is this correct?

Will a USB phone help? Will a USB headset help? Can users share their experience on these devices please?

I had a similar problem - I would call a 'local number' (so dialed the 7-digits that I would use on a 'normal' phone) - the # would ring but no connection established ...

But if I called a 'remote number' (1 & then the full 10-digits) it worked fine, so I tried that with the softphone & local #'s and worked fine as well (& since local #'s fall with the same 500 minute fee structure for the softphone no issues with extra $$ for the 1 + 10 digits).

I installed the softphone on a 2nd PC (still havn't got it working to receive calls yet) but it worked fine when placing a call using the local 7-digits.

As for USB handsets, I picked up a cheap USB handset ($25cnd) from 'The Source - Circuit City' (the old 'Radio Shack' here in Canada) & it works great. I'm using the SJLabs softphone, so I did need to get the "SJphoneDriverVoipVoice.exe" drivers for it from the SJLabs website to allow it to answer/dial.

Now, I am having this issue - after I log into the softphone, it works fine for sometime. After sometime of inactivity, when I make a call, I can hear the bell ring, but once it becomes "Operational", I do not hear anything from the other side. But the bell ring is true (I can call my cell phone, the bell will ring). This is consistent behavior. Anyone else experience this? Any known workarounds?

My guess is that this has to do something with the software not being able to grab the soundcard for some reason, so it cannot use it to stream the incoming/outgoing audio. Is this correct?

Will a USB phone help? Will a USB headset help? Can users share their experience on these devices please?

Thanx in anticipation

Check device properties. Make sure playback goes through your headset and record to the mic.. easy in xp trying to use pc speakers produces feedback/ echo